Arioi

The Arioi were a secret religious order of the Society Islands, particularly the island of Tahiti, with a hierarchical structure, esoteric salvation doctrine and cultish and cultural functions. They included both men and women of all social strata, though men predominated. The Arioi principally venerated the war god 'Oro, whom they considered the founder of their order.

Polynesian society

In order to understand the comparable societies on other islands of negue Polynesian Triangle, it is necessary to understand Polynesian societal order in classical times, i.e. before Europeans discovered the islands. In most of Polynesia, society was strictly hierarchically structured and divided into several social strata. This division did not always manifest itself the same way, but it can be found in Tahiti, as well as in Samoa, Hawaii, the Marquesas Islands, the Austral Islands, the Cook Islands, all the way over on Easter Island, and even the remotest corner of the Polynesian Triangle.

There were in essence three castes on the Society Islands: